TITANS AWARDED PRESTIGIOUS SWIM 21 & CLUBMARK STATUS

Titans

The Ellesmere College Titans Swimming Club was established in 2008, as a meeting of minds, between Ellesmere College a school with a great sporting heritage and the parents of some of the top young swimmers in Shropshire, united in their desire to create an ambitious, positive and competitive swimming club.

Inspired by the real life events depicted in the 2007 film Pride, which documented the trials and tribulations of establishing a swimming club in 1970s Philadelphia - a group of 10 young Shropshire school children decided in June 2008 to embark upon the same track. Confronted by all the difficulties usually associated with achieving sporting excellence in a rural community, such as lack of facilities, coaching and funding they decided to take matters into their own hands and embrace change. Having secured a partnership with local independent school Ellesmere College, for the use of their pool and training facilities, and the voluntary services of serial entrepreneur turned swim coach Jon Pardoe, they mapped out their goals and the route to achieving them.

The result: A centre of swimming excellence in the heart of the North Shropshire countryside that has been awarded the prestigious Swim 21 Skill Development and Club Mark status.

Swim 21 Accreditation is a "Quality mark". It recognises clubs that are committed to providing "safe, effective and quality services" based on the principles of Long Term Athlete Development.

In presenting the award Lesley Hill, Regional Director of West Midlands ASA said "this is a wonderful achievement and on behalf of the region I would like to congratulate you for you efforts in attaining this accreditation".

Commenting upon this award Titans head coach Jon Pardoe said "This is superb recognition of all the work we have put in over the last 10 months since we started the club back in June of last year. From the start we have based our training and competition schedule around the principles of Long Term Athlete Development. The correct acquisition of skills at an early age is vital. Our next goal is to become the first club in Shropshire to be Swim 21 recognised for competitive development status."

Ellesmere College will be holding an Open Day on Sunday 17th May 2pm-4pm when tours of the school will be available.

Further details about joining the Ellesmere College Titans can be found on their website www.ellesmerecollegetitans.co.uk or by telephoning Jon Pardoe on 07903 641668. Further details on swimming scholarships at Ellesmere College can be obtained from the College Admissions Secretary on 01691 622321 or by email at admissions.secretary@ellesmere.com .

4th May 2009  Back to News